'Scottsboro Boys' opens in London

"The Scottsboro Boys," the controversial musical by John Kander and Feb Ebb that premiered in Minneapolis in fall 2010, is opening Oct. 29 at the 550-seat Young Vic in South London.

The show, which transferred to Broadway after its Minneapolis run, was nominated for 12 Tonys, including for stars Colman Domingo and Forrest McClendon, both of whom are in the London production.

That produciton also stars Christian Dante White.

"Scottsboro Boys" became a source of controversy because of its uncritical use of blackface. It drew protests on Broadway.

The British production opens in the Halloween season, a time when celebrities usually draw attention to themselves by donning blackface. This year, the trend has been upheld by Utah-born actress Julianne Hough, a contestant on "Dancing With The Stars," and fashion designer Allesandro Dell'Acqua.